Russian, Iranian Top Diplomats Stress Importance of Coordination Ahead of Astana Talks on Syria

MOSCOW- Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov of Russia and Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran have stressed the necessity of coordination of efforts between Moscow and Teheran ahead of the intra-Syrian talks due to be held in Kazakhstan’s Astana on January 23, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday, according to Itar Tass.

“The two top diplomats continued the discussion of the situation in and around Syria,” the ministry said. “The ministers stressed the necessity of further coordination in the context of the forthcoming intra-Syrian talks in Astana.”

“They also discussed a number of issues of bilateral Russian-Iranian cooperation,” the ministry added.

 Astana will host talks on the situation in Syria on January 23. It is yet unknown who will take part in the negotiations. It is expected that participants will include representatives of the Syrian government army and armed opposition groups. The talks are to focus on issues of maintaining ceasefire throughout the country. Plans to hold consultations in Astana were announced after a meeting between Russia’s, Turkey’s and Iran’s foreign minister in Moscow on December 20, 2016. The three ministers spoke in favor of a nationwide ceasefire in Syria.

Lavrov, Cavusoglu exchanged views on the situation in Syria

 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu have emphasized the need for respecting ceasefire in Syria, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement following the two ministers’ telephone conversation. According to the ministry, the top diplomats discussed the preparations for the meeting on settling the crisis in Syria, scheduled to be held in Astana on January 23.

Russian, UN diplomats discuss preparations for Syria meeting in Astana

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, and Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, have discussed over the phone preparations for the meeting on Syria to be held in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

According to the Ministry, the conversation was initiated by the Russian side.

“They discussed an array of issues relating to preparing and holding an international meeting on the Syrian settlement in Astana on January 23 , aimed primarily at ensuring compliance with and the consolidation of the cessation of hostilities in Syria that came into force in accordance with the agreements reached on December 29, 2016, and enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 2336,” the ministry said.

H.M